As we all know, there needs to be a balance in life.

So easy to say but, oh, so hard to do!

Again, we all know we need to eat as healthily as possible, right? And again, easy to say but so hard to do! We love those foods that have nourished us since whenever — so what if they are laden with bad fats, sugar and salt. Those foods are part of who we are — we’ve established a long lasting relationship with them and it’s tough to say good-bye.

Yet, we are told to eat a healthy diet — low fats, sugars and salt, correct? And I like to think we all keep that in mind as we buy or order food — balance is important for longevity.

It’s the same way with personal relationships. We need to hold on to those old friends — those who have been with us for years because they are who we are and, they make us a healthier person.

I have a couple of people who have been with me for many years — one male and one female — note the balance? The Old German has given me tons of laughs, pokes at each other and, although, we don’t see eye to eye on some things, we would give our last ounce of blood for each other. Just thinking of him makes me smile.

My long lasting relationships with a woman was formed on a common liking and interest in wine. From there, we worked together on trying to make each other better (She tried with me but … that’s such a steep hill to climb, and since she was already good, my task was so much easier). The key is we balance each other and from that balancing act comes a long lasting relationship.

However, life is what it is and some relationships end quickly for a myriad of reasons. The friendship dissolves because one moves to a new location, maybe there’s a family issue, a political issue or just that its time to move on and that means away.

But those short lived relationships are important because they form a foundation for going forward. It’s the same pattern in the formation of one’s drinking personality. Some of the first liquids you tasted stay with you and some leave for a myriad of reasons. For example…

Hamm’s Beer was the first beer I ever tasted. It was fine, but being the innocent young man I was at the time, it was, well, beer. As time moved on, Hamm’s was always there — that nicely sweet and slightly crisp lager Maybe it has something to do with it being a Minnesota born beer or the marketing of it. Remember the “From the land of sky blue waters….” advertising song? It’s a good beer and when I want to “go back,” it’s my choice.

To say I have a long lasting relationship with Hamm’s would be an understatement!

On the other side of the beer coin, we have the light beers — I never could get going with them. Yes, they are a healthier choice of beers — if consumed equally — but the taste was too light for me. Sorry Bud Light but you’re not my thing. However, I hope you live longer and prosper.

I enjoy playing with cocktails — that means trying different mixtures and in different amounts. Our household likes a good Negroni and one day I tried making what I called a Bour-oni. A Negroni is made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari so the Bour-oni was created of one ounce of good Bourbon, like Bulleit Bourbon, a half ounce of sweet vermouth and a quarter of an ounce of Campari.

That new cocktail is delicious with a nice Bourbon taste buttressed by the sweet vermouth and the bitterness of the Campari — it started as an experiment and is now continually building a long lasting relationship with me.

A certain wine is never too far from me. A while ago I visited Crow River Winery (Hutchinson, MN) and tasted their Marquette. I’ve tasted a few Marquettes over the years but this one spoke a new language to me. It was the start of our time together.

Yes, there was the expected tartness of the wine but it was the balance that attracted me. The balance between that tartness of the cherry taste, the sassy peppery taste and a delicate vanilla finish. It caught my attention and it will always be part of me.

Yes, there needs to be a balance in life — a balance between the excitement of short lived relationships and the sweetness of a long lasting relationships. It’s kind of the yin and the yang of life.

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!